Tea on Tuesdays {at Two}

 

 

 “I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea,” said Anne, shutting her eyes ecstatically.
“And asking Diana if she takes sugar! I know she doesn’t but of course I’ll ask her just as if I didn’t know.
And then pressing her to take another piece of fruit cake and another helping of preserves.
Oh, Marilla, it’s a wonderful sensation just to think of it.
Can I take her into the spare room to lay off her hat when she comes? And then into the parlor to sit?”
-Anne of Green Gables

 

 

We are reviving our official tea time in the Gauthier home, as they have been random lately with holidays and a change of pace in our lives with the addition of baby #7.

Let’s be honest – our home is very busy right now with little ones, a two month old, homeschooling different ages and just keeping up with the daily life.  However, we all know time passes by all too quickly. And before you know it, some of my girls will be grown before the others and I will look back wistfully and *wish* I had taken more time for tea together. With six daughters to raise, you would think tea time would be a regular thing. But alas, sometimes “life” gets in the way.

Yet, shouldn’t tea on Tuesdays with my girls be a little bit of what real life is about for us?

These daughters of mine – while now young and freckle faced, with pig tails and braids bouncing, still safely tucked beneath my wings –  soon will grow … they will leave the house and become too busy for tea at the kitchen table in a few years. If Tea on Tuesdays {at 2 o’clock} is something that we can have together throughout the years, then let me stop everything to relish in a tradition that may bind our hearts together.

 

 

Would you like to join us in slowing down your Tuesday and pouring a cup of tea? Maybe it will be with friends or perhaps it will be a simple tea with just you and your children … it might even be a nice time to invite over new friends or someone from church who would like to share an hour with you.

 

All that is needed are some tea cups {easily found at thrift stores- however, we have a large collection of tea cups from over the years}, fresh scones (or cookies, muffins – anything will do), a hot pot of tea and preferably a pretty tablecloth. Setting a table for tea in a simple, attractive way will make your tea party feel  … just that wee bit out of the ordinary … if you do not have time for baking, even a store bought treat would be lovely set out on a pretty plate.

Nothing elaborate is required – simple teacups from around your home … perhaps a delightful plate or two for the goodies…

 

We use fabric napkins for all our meals, but for this tea, we used the prettier ones.

 

Light a candle. If you are blessed to have fresh flowers, put a sweet collection of blooms on your table, as well. In the spring and summer months, move your tea party outside under the shade of a tree (I prefer to eat and dine outside at all times of the warmer seasons!).

 

A dash of icing sugar makes an ordinary scone seem a bit more heavenly.

 

Choose a tea that is your child’s favorite. In our house, it’s Candy Cane tea. I prefer chamomile or Earl Grey tea.

 

 

At 2 o’clock, ring the tea bell and enjoy a whimsical half hour of tea together.  {This also encourages younger children to tell time as they will be counting down the the hours until their tea time!} Make sure some good music is playing in the background (classical, old jazz, anything you want to introduce to your children’s ears. I love for them to hear and know the voices and talents of the big band era, along with classical composers.)

Encourage your children to practice good manners. Fold your napkin on your lap. Ask lovely questions to foster a healthy conversation. Our favorite is to go around the table and ask what book everyone is reading at the moment. {This is also a great time for narration, if you follow that route in your homeschooling. I also plan on revisiting poetry readings at the table.}

I loved the concentration my five year old as she worked on her manners and tea-drinking abilities …

 

It does not take much time to slow down a regular day for Tea on Tuesdays. And in 10 years, when the girls are grown, I pray we look back over our Tuesday’s Tea at Two with sweet fondness and memories.

 

And if you feel so inclined to visit us on a Tuesday afternoon, may there always be a teacup waiting for you.